Isle of Wight County Museum
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Location
Smithfield, Virginia
Address
103 Main Street, Smithfield, VA 23430
Typical visit
Local history exhibits and the Ham Cam
Admission
Adults $2; ages 17 and under free
At the Isle of Wight County Museum, county history is presented through interactive exhibits ranging from a turn-of-the-century country store to displays about colonial life, the Blackwater River, the Civil War and the Cold War. The museum opened in 1976 and sits on Main Street in downtown Smithfield, Virginia.[1]
The museum is also known for its Smithfield ham exhibits and a famously old cured ham visitors can see in person—or check in on through the online Ham Cam. It makes a manageable stop for a first look at the county’s history, with downtown Smithfield’s historic streets close at hand.[2][3]
Plan a trip to Isle of Wight County Museum
Why visit the Isle of Wight County Museum?
The museum brings together stories that are distinctly local: the county’s early history and river life, Smithfield’s ham industry, and the region’s experience of war and changing technology. Its interactive displays and country-store setting give visitors a welcoming starting point for understanding the community beyond its best-known food tradition.[4]
The ham is part of the experience, but it is not the whole story. Allow time to browse the broader local-history exhibits, then explore nearby Main Street or follow the museum’s self-guided South Church Street walking tour.
Start here
Begin with the county-history exhibits, then look for displays on Smithfield’s ham industry and the Blackwater River. The museum’s visitor information page also offers a downloadable walking tour of South Church Street, an approximately one-mile route that starts at the museum.[5]
What to see and do
See exhibits that interpret Isle of Wight County’s colonial past, river heritage, Civil War history and Cold War-era stories.
Learn about the ham industry that helped make Smithfield widely known, and see the museum’s notable cured-ham display.
The museum’s turn-of-the-century country-store exhibit offers a glimpse of everyday commercial life in an earlier era.
Take the museum’s self-guided route through a historic part of town. The roughly one-mile tour begins at the museum; check the museum’s site for the downloadable map and audio.
History and significance
Founded in 1976, the museum interprets the history of Isle of Wight County through artifacts and exhibits on local life, industry and major historical periods. The Town of Smithfield describes its collection of displays as interactive, with subjects including colonial history, the Smithfield ham industry, the Blackwater River, the Civil War and the Cold War.[6]
The museum’s focus on ham connects a specific local industry with the wider story of Smithfield. Its exhibits place that tradition alongside the area’s river, community and military histories, making the museum a useful introduction to both the town and the surrounding county.[7]
Planning a visit
The museum is at 103 Main Street in Smithfield. Its published schedule lists hours of 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon–4 p.m. Sunday. The museum lists adult admission at $2 and free admission for visitors age 17 and under. Hours, admission and holiday closures can change, so confirm details with the museum before setting out.[8]
The museum lists closures for New Year’s Day, Easter, Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and staff in-service days. For current visitor details, call (757) 356-1223. Group tours and programming are also listed by the Town of Smithfield; contact the museum to confirm arrangements.[9]
Nearby attractions
The museum is on Main Street in downtown Smithfield, a convenient base for exploring the town’s historic center. The museum’s self-guided South Church Street tour begins at the building and is approximately one mile long.[10]
Smithfield, Virginia
Explore the historic town center and continue discovering the local stories introduced at the museum.
Isle of Wight County, Virginia
Use the museum as a starting point for learning about the county’s history and places beyond downtown.
Travel books and maps: Browse related Virginia travel books and maps on Amazon
References
- ↑ Museum, Town of Smithfield, Town of Smithfield, Virginia. Retrieved October 24, 2026.
- ↑ Regional Attractions, Visit Suffolk Virginia, Suffolk Tourism. Retrieved October 24, 2026.
- ↑ Visit Us, Isle of Wight County Museum, Isle of Wight County Museum. Retrieved October 24, 2026.
- ↑ Museum, Town of Smithfield, Town of Smithfield, Virginia. Retrieved October 24, 2026.
- ↑ Visit Us, Isle of Wight County Museum, Isle of Wight County Museum. Retrieved October 24, 2026.
- ↑ Museum, Town of Smithfield, Town of Smithfield, Virginia. Retrieved October 24, 2026.
- ↑ Regional Attractions, Visit Suffolk Virginia, Suffolk Tourism. Retrieved October 24, 2026.
- ↑ Visit Us, Isle of Wight County Museum, Isle of Wight County Museum. Retrieved October 24, 2026.
- ↑ Museum, Town of Smithfield, Town of Smithfield, Virginia. Retrieved October 24, 2026.
- ↑ Visit Us, Isle of Wight County Museum, Isle of Wight County Museum. Retrieved October 24, 2026.